s expected, Regine Velasquez's launch of her latest Original Soundtrack, "Til I Met You," at Ratsky Morato a couple of days back was a resounding success. Held only a week after her major Big Dome concert, "Twenty," it seems people can't get enough of the Songbird still who then sang live a repertoire solely culled from the disc released under her own label iMusic.

Make that, their label. iMusic, after all, is bankrolled by Regine and Ogie Alcasid who justified his presence in the audience that night in lieu of this their joint business venture. As expected, when people espied the balladeer, they clamored for impromptu performance. Ogie refused initially only to reluctantly obliged to unanimous cajoling by singing a duet with Regine of their hit single, "Hanggang Ngayon." Applause, applause.

And then came the expected shouts for more. But instead of Ogie walking back to where Regine was onstage, he went up to the show's musical director, Raul Mitra, and whispered into his ear.

To which Raul vacated his place in front of the keyboards and allowed Ogie to take over.

And that's when Ogie played the opening bars of his famous song "Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang."

As the song progressed, celebrities Janno Gibbs (guest in the show) and Robin Padilla (who just dropped in and was also prompted to duet with Regine on "Alipin") joined in the, er, serenade.

What does it all mean? Probably, it's Ogie sending the message to people that he and Regine are so unaffected by rumors that romantically link them to each other that they could stand their as friends poking fun at the issue?

Or probably, it's the first song that popped into Ogie's heads at that moment and maybe he thought "What the heck----- let's do it!"?

Probably, it's Ogie giving people a hint regarding the rumor?

Or probably it meant nothing at all?

We'll never know for sure. Certainly, though, the song was a very curious choice, and made Regine's Ratsky Morato stint a you — should've-been-there affair.

Now about the Regine's latest CD: Still composed of remakes of recent OPM hits as "Alipin" (by Shamrock), "Fallin" (Janno Gibbs), "Sana Ay Malaman Mo" (Piolo Pascual), "Don't Go" (Victoria) and "Di Na Nagiisa" (South Border), "Til I Met You" is Regine dishing out her vintage singing style of emotion-laden low and mid-range to ear-shattering birits.

What varied, though, is musical arrangement for each track. Reminiscent of her "Regine" CD, this is achieved in "Til I Met You" by utilizing the geniuses of different arrangers who bring their forte into song each was assigned to. These are Raul Mitra, Arnold Buena, Mike Villegas, Jay Durias, Mon Faustino, Arnie Mendaros and Marvin Querido.

The next single off "Til I Met You" is "Don't Go;" a pop alternative tune that sees Regine staying in mid-range throughout the song.

It's only the second time Regine has chosen an English single that borders on the rock genre. The last time was in the 90's via "I Would Die For You" from her "Listen Without Prejudice" CD. Let's hope this bid for eclectic offer is embraced if only for effort.

#2: ‘TeamStar 1 The Album'

Japanese hiphop/rap star DJ Bell recently launched the maiden CD offering from his Philippine record label, Teamstar International Records, Inc.

Titled "Teamstar 1 The Album," the 17-track CD gathers more than a dozen new Filipino hip hop artists that aim to give local music lovers an alternative from the current band scene via danceable and slow jam cuts.

Among these are "Galaw-Galaw" by Jhego; "Deep Penetration" by Dash; "Pinoy" by Boom (featuring 3Style); "Wankata" by Bagito Uno; "Iisa Lang Ang Ating Bayan" by Repablikan Syndicate; "Packer" and "PNG Gangsters" by PNC; "My Fairy Tail" and "Masarap Bang Huminga" by Crazy as Pinoy; "Gising" by ChubbB; "Home Boi" by Kruzzada; "Party Thang" by Untouchables; "Seksi" by Konigs; "Yoko Nang Mag-rap" by Stick Figgas; "CDO Girl" by South Side Inc.; "The Anthem" by Los Indios Bravos; and the "TeamStar All-Star" finale track.

"Teamstar 1 Album" is the second Dj Bell-produced CD to hit record shelves. Last year, DJ Bell put out the compilation album "Bridge" in lieu of the Manila-Yokohama 40th Sister City Celebration. "Bridge" featured works by Denmark , Andrew E, Francis Magalona and Dice & K9.

The launch party for "TeamStar 1 Album" was held at ZiPangu (formerly Republic of Malate ) which is home to hip hop performing artists every Friday and Saturday when the venue becomes a hiphop disco bar.

DJ Bell himself will soon be releasing his debut album here produced by Andrew E. Also from Teamstar International Records Inc. soon is the latest album from Dice & K9 (of "Itsuomo" fame) that recently became the label's banner artist.

#3: My Chemical Romance

Wanna hear the latest songs from rock band My Chemical Romance? Then be sure to be at 6Underground on Oct 31.

The Halloween Party cum album launch feted by Warner Music and NU 107 will put on sale the new My Chemical Romance album "The Black Parade" at the venue. Buyers get a limited edition Black Parade T-shirt.

Like everyone else, we're yet to hear what My Chemical Romance has to offer anew. But according to its lead singer, Gerard Way , "The Black Parade" centers on the story of The Patient and his imminent meeting with the Grim Reaper.

"When you die, death comes to you however you want," Gerard says. "It's your strongest memory from childhood to adulthood. For the main character on this record, The Patient, his strongest memory is his father taking him to a parade when he was a child. So when death comes for him as he's dying tragically in a hospital, it comes in the form of a black parade."

Other members of My Chemical Romance are guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Lero, Bassist Mikey Way and drummer Bob Bryar. Their last album was 2004's "Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge" that sold two million copies worldwide.

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